CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia State University clinched its first Mountain East Conference Women's Soccer Championship with a dramatic 2-1 victory over the University of Charleston on Sunday afternoon at the Welch Athletic Complex. A thrilling late-game strike by Sara París Fílter sealed the title for the Yellow Jackets.
The opening half was a tense, defensive affair, with neither team able to capitalize on limited opportunities. Charleston (16-5-0) managed five shots in the half, forcing two saves from WVSU goalkeeper Laura Galindo. The Yellow Jackets (15-3-3) attempted three shots, with Naomi Njeri's effort in the 17th minute coming closest but saved by Charleston's Jordan Maynard.
Charleston dominated corner opportunities, earning four in the first half, but the Yellow Jackets' backline, led by Nagi Higashi and Maxima Bellscheidt, held firm to keep the game scoreless heading into the break.
The match opened up in the second half, with both teams trading chances. WVSU broke the deadlock in the 67th minute when Sandra Linares capitalized on an assist from Njeri, slotting the ball past Maynard for her 16th goal of the season.
Charleston leveled the score in the 74th minute after Lina Jaime converted a penalty kick following a foul in the box. With the score tied, both teams pushed for a winner.
In the 89th minute, West Virginia State orchestrated a perfect counterattack to secure the championship. On a 2-on-1 break, París Fílter passed to Linares, who drew in the defender and returned the ball to París Fílter. París Fílter calmly slotted the ball into the right corner of the net, past a diving Maynard, for her 12th goal of the season and the game-winner with 1:35 left on the clock.
Both teams fired 15 shots, with WVSU showing greater accuracy by placing 10 of theirs on target compared to Charleston's eight. Goalkeeper Laura Galindo played a pivotal role for the Yellow Jackets, making seven crucial saves, while Charleston's Jordan Maynard recorded eight stops. Fouls were frequent, with WVSU committing 13 and Charleston slightly edging them with 14. Discipline played a role as well, with WVSU seeing two yellow cards while Charleston received three.
Galindo anchored the Yellow Jackets defensively with a seven-save performance, including a critical stop on Jaime's shot in the 90th minute. Higashi and Bellscheidt were instrumental in maintaining defensive organization under pressure from Charleston's attack.
West Virginia State's historic win caps a stellar season under second-year head coach Brandon Slewa. The Yellow Jackets showcased resilience and composure in the championship match, cementing their place as one of the premier programs in the MEC.
Following the match, Galindo, París Fílter, and Linares were announced as part of the all-tournament team. UC's Lucas and Jaime joined Frostburg State's Cassidy Paige and Fairmont State's Braylyn Sparks to round out the tournament honors.
The Yellow Jackets will now await their NCAA Tournament seeding, aiming to continue their postseason success.
